Steve Jobs’ widow to attend State of Union speech

Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, will attend the State of the Union speech as a guest of First Lady Michelle Obama, the White House announced Tuesday. Powell is very active in the nonprofit world and leads one organization, the Emerson Collective, which funds a number of education reform ventures.

The First Lady’s guest list is a window into the themes of the State of Union speech.

In addition to Warren Buffett’s secretary, Debbie Bosanek, this year’s invitees include a homeowner who was able to stay in her home due to the government’s Home Affordable Refinance Program, and a manager from a General Motors plant in Detroit.

Bruce Cochrane, the chief executive of Lincolnton Furniture will also be in the First Lady’s Box. The White House has spotlighted Lincolnton for bucking the trend of making furniture in China and restarting a furniture production plant in North Carolina.

Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita, chief executive of the privately held Quality Electrodynamics firm will also be a guest. Fujita emigrated from Japan and started his own company that makes MRI radio frequency antennas, an example of advanced manufacturing jobs that White House economists argue will be critical for U.S. success in the globalized economy.